The Journal of Transdisciplinary Environmental Studies vol. 12, no. 2, 2013 Public Archives and other Sources for Surveying of Dumpsites and Polluting Enterprises before 1950 Anne-Sofie Fleischer Michaelsen,Department of Environmental, Social and Spatial Change, Roskilde University, Denmark E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: In Denmark, the local environmental authorities have had an obligation to survey areas for soil contamination since the early 1980s. Through the years, detecting and locating old dumpsites and gathering historical information on them have been very dependent on old aerial photographs. As a result, the environmental authorities only have little knowledge of dumpsites operating before the mid-1950s. This study describes the utility of various historical sources for surveying of old dumpsites in the former Ballerup-Maaløv Municipality near Copenhagen. The minute books of the Council and the Health Commission in the municipality were used. In order to locate two dumpsites mentioned in the minute books and gather information on them, the fol- lowing additional sources were used: Old census papers, index cards from tax assessments of real property, income tax returns, writings from local history societies on the former villages, recorded memories told by senior citizens and jubilee publications from homeowners’ associations together with old cadastral maps, old topographical maps, and old aerial photographs plus a comparison of terrain heights in a topographical military map from 1900 and the Danish Elevation Model from 2005-2007. The minute books of the Council and the Health Commission contain information on 31 dumpsites and 15 possible dumpsites of very different characteristics. Only a few of the dumpsites were already known by the local environmental authorities. In addition, the minute books and the index cards for properties contain much information which can be used for surveying of other activities in the past that may have caused soil contamination e.g. former industrial enterprises. Keywords: Dumpsite, soil contamination, surveying, health commission, minute book, elevation model, Ballerup-Maaløv Municipality, Denmark. The Journal of Transdisciplinary Environmental Studies, ISSN 1602-2297 http://www.journal-tes.dk/ Michaelsen: Public Archives and other Sources for Surveying of Dumpsites .... 1. Introduction The counties’ knowledge was based on reports In Denmark, the local environmental authorities from the municipalities in the early 1980s. Ex- have an obligation to survey areas for soil con- perience shows that these reports do not include tamination in accordance with the Danish Soil all old dumpsites (Københavns Amtskommune Contamination Act (Jordforureningsloven 2013). 1986; Københavns Amt 1997; Holt 2012a; Holt The survey of areas for soil contamination caused by 2012b). The reports mainly contain information activities in the past e.g. dumpsites and industrial on dumpsites with a file in the municipal record enterprises has been performed since 1982. The act system or dumpsites the staff could remember. The defines areas of priority for public action to avoid the reports were made when the Danish Ministry of the damaging effect of soil contamination. This includes Environment in 1980 asked the counties to register surveying. The act concerns areas where there is soil old dumpsites in order to investigate the effects contamination which may have a harmful effect on the environment from any deposited or buried on groundwater within an area with special drink- chemical waste (Københavns Amtskommune 1986). ing water interest or a catchment area for a public The primary purpose of the municipal reports was water supply plant or may have a harmful effect on therefore to obtain information on old dumpsites people in an area containing housing, child care where there was either knowledge of or a possibility centers or public playing fields. The act has recently of deposited chemical waste. This has probably led been changed, and now it includes areas with soil to a greater focus on large dumpsites, since it was contamination which may have a harmful effect on widely believed that the possibility of deposition of surface water and international nature protection chemical waste on these sites was very high. areas. Generally, contamination of groundwater is given the highest priority in extensively urbanized Several counties and municipalities have since car- areas (Danske Regioner 2010). ried out a more systematic detection and location of the old dumpsites, mainly based on examinations of Areas with an increased background concentration old aerial photographs. The reason for these efforts of immobile contaminants, usually polycyclic aro- was primarily due to the landfill gas explosion in a matic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) and heavy metals, are house in 1991 next to an old dumpsite in Skelling- classified by the local environmental authorities as sted in Denmark, and to assess the risk of landfill “lightly contaminated” without warranting an indi- gas explosion hazards (Københavns Amt 1997). vidual registration of each property (Miljøstyrelsen However, old aerial photographs have shortcom- 2007). These areas are typically urban areas in 1945 ings in relation to the detection and location of old (Danske Regioner 2010). dumpsites in Denmark, especially in urban areas. In recent years, a number of soil contamination cases Dumpsites operating until the late 1920s were carried out by the local environmental authorities used in a period where no aerial photographs were have surfaced because old abandoned dumpsites un- taken. Dumpsites operating from the early 1930s to expectedly and accidentally were found in developed the early 1950s were used in a period where aerial areas (Michaelsen 1987-2003). photographs were only taken in a few selected years and have a poorer picture quality compared to aerial In the 1980s and early 1990s, the old dumpsites photographs taken during and after 1954. It can received a great deal of attention from the former be difficult to get aerial photographs of operating Danish counties (abolished in 2007), and many dumpsites and aerial photographs where the deposit counties expected that all significant dumpsites in appears clearly relating to the early 1930s to the early environmental terms were surveyed (Miljøstyrelsen 1950s. In addition, the small dumpsites and the 2000b). The author estimates that the counties’ ef- traces of them are almost impossible to spot on aerial forts mainly resulted in knowledge of large and new- photographs from this period if one is not aware of er dumpsites, while primarily small, older dumpsites their existence and geographical location in advance. remained undetected. This is due to the methods used for detecting and locating the dumpsites. Large dumpsites in operation and traces after them are easier to spot on aerial photographs due to their size. In addition, the deposition on large dumpsites 30 The Journal of Transdisciplinary Environmental Studies (TES) often has been going on for several years. The deposi- and carbon dioxide can be detected and the landfill tion, or part of it, has in many cases happened later gas can be a potential threat for buildings etc. on than on many small dumpsites. This makes it often the dumpsite (Bote 2013). Some of the older dump- possible to obtain aerial photographs of large dump- sites that have not been detected yet may therefore sites from different years and aerial photographs represent a significant overlooked risk to human from years where the picture quality is good. health and the environment, especially dumpsites with municipal waste or with household waste and It is not easy to identify abandoned dumpsites on other kinds of waste from a homeowners’ associa- old aerial photographs, when the dumpsites are lo- tion or a village. cated within urban areas. Thus, it is more difficult to see traces of former dumpsite activity in gardens, When the local environmental authorities do not industrial areas, developed areas and sealed areas know about the dumpsites, they cannot act on the than in agricultural fields without crops and green environmental risks, and when the local environ- areas covered with grass. It is also more difficult to mental authorities become aware of the dumpsites identify dumpsites on old aerial photographs, where during ongoing construction and maintenance the deposit occurs in a waterhole, small lake, bog, work, conditions for acting are difficult. The survey- hollow or flat ground instead of a gravel or clay pit. ing of the dumpsites provides a number of environ- mental benefits. Some examples are mentioned in As a result of the methods used in detecting and the following. locating the old dumpsites, the environmental authorities only have little knowledge of dumpsites On dumpsite areas with sensitive land use (dwell- operating before the mid-1950s. ings, allotments, holiday cottages, child care centers, schools, public playing fields and green areas), the One could argue that the large dumpsites, which local environmental authorities inform the property have primarily been operating after the mid-1950’s, owners and the users about the health risks and give pose a higher risk to human health and the environ- advice on behavior that reduces the risks, where the ment, because they contain more chemicals and soil contamination has exceeded the values when no younger waste and therefore pollute more. However, risks are expected; the Danish quality criteria for soil site investigations